Parental smoking major influence on children

Three-quarters of Irish smokers grew up in a house with smoking parents, a new study by the HSE has found.

According to the research, which is part of the HSE National Health Promotion Tobacco/Smoking Cessation Public Awareness Campaign, 78% of smokers grew up in a house where either parent smoked.

The study also found that almost half of the population smokes, and almost one-fifth started smoking before they were 14 years old.

Two-thirds of smokers started smoking before they were 18 years old.

“The single most important thing you can do to improve your health and protect that of your children is to give up smoking,” said Dr Fenton Howell, director of HSE Public Health.

“As it is very hard to quit smoking once you’ve started, as evidenced by the figures showing most current smokers began before age 18, a key imperative is to prevent future generations from starting at all and parents’ behaviour and attitude to smoking is key in whether or not children will smoke,” Dr Howell added.

Approximately 7,000 people die from smoking related disease in Ireland every year, and most of these deaths are preventable.

Smoking causes 30% of all cancers, including 90% of lung cancers. Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and are at double the risk of having a stroke.

Ireland’s smoking trends
The HSE research also revealed that 52% of current smokers smoke in the house; 68% claim to smoke in the garden or garden shed and 69% smoke when out socialising.

More than 40% of current or past smokers said they smoke between 11-20 cigarettes a day; 15% said that they smoke more than 21 cigarettes.

Of current and past smokers, 53% smoked in front of their brother or sister; 35% smoked their parents cigarettes and 28% smoked in front of their parents.

Only 50% of current smokers with dependant children said that they would be very likely to give up smoking if they felt their own smoking would encourage their children to smoke, a further 23% would be somewhat likely. 

However, 28% say they are not likely to give up smoking even though this may encourage their children to smoke. 

New smoking cessation website
As part of the campaign, a new smoking cessation website has been developed.

The website www.giveupsmoking.ie provides a plan to help people quit along with information about the benefits of quitting.

Smokers trying to quit can also call the National Smokers' Quitline, phone: 1850 201 203 to speak to an advisor or get in contact with the HSE to find out about local give up smoking services.

[Posted: Tue 19/05/2009]